Noah Syndergaard continues to puzzle the Mets.
The organization’s top pitching prospect has shown electric stuff at Triple-A Las Vegas, according to sources, but is still struggling to get results.
“He needs more time,” said a major league evaluator who recently watched Syndergaard pitch. “His stuff is better than [Zack] Wheeler’s, but his fastball command has been way too inconsistent. You would be afraid of some real big innings if you brought him to the majors.”
Syndergaard is 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA in nine starts for Las Vegas. In his most recent start, against El Paso on Friday, the right-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
“He’s got three way-above-average pitches,” the evaluator said. “His changeup at this time is better than [Matt] Harvey’s was and he’s got a good breaking ball. He’s just too inconsistent right now.”
Omar Quintanilla’s departure from the Mets two weeks ago may have been a financial decision.
According to an industry source, the Mets avoided having to pay Quintanilla the remainder of his $800,000 deal by outrighting him to Las Vegas four days before a stipulated deadline in his contract.
The Mets employed a similar tactic last week with Kyle Farnsworth, outrighting him just before they would have been responsible for the remainder of his $1 million contract.
Farnsworth has since signed with the Astros.
Vic Black, who was considered a key bullpen arm entering spring training, continues to struggle with his control at Las Vegas. Black entered Monday’s play with six walks in his last 4 ¹/₃ innings, but has posted a 1.53 ERA in 16 appearances for the 51s.